"Our efforts were renewing to the fact when all of our agencies work together and assist each other we will see positive results. It was a very successful effort." Those words, by Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar, summed up a recent law enforcement saturation detail in Prentiss County.

On Thursday, September 20, officers from the Department of Public Safety (MHP, MBI, MBN), US Marshall's Fugitive Task Force, and local authorities conducted a law enforcement saturation detail in Prentiss County.

A meth lab was also discoveredas result of officers assisting Mississippi Department of Corrections with a home inspection.

"As law-enforcementofficers, we are considered the last defensefor public safety. We were able to defend our citizens by helping serve these felony drug arrest warrants and making sure our roads are safe for families to travel," stated Captain Chad Moore, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Troop F commander.

Booneville Police Chief Michael Ramey commented, "I would like to thank all the units that took part in the operation. Getting these drug violators off the street is one of our main priorities. I know these results will help lesson some of the crimes against our citizens and their personal property."

Troopers, Deputies, PoliceOfficers, and Prentiss County Constables issued 170 traffic citations, including two DUI'sand 5 misdemeanor drug arrest. While arrest teams were making felony arrest, other officers manned 24 safety checkpoints throughout the City of Booneville, City of Baldwyn and Prentiss County, during the five hour operation.

Last Defenseis the theory law enforcementofficers stand in the gap between:

-a drug dealer and innocent people

-a drunk driver and motoring families

-a distractive/careless driver and the public

Operation Last Defensewas executed after approximately3 months of planning/preparing and included 60 officers from the US Marshall's Fugitive Task Force, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Mississippi Department of Corrections, North Mississippi Narcotics, Prentiss County Sheriff's Department, Booneville Police Department, and the Prentiss County Constables.

Point of Contact for this statement is Trooper Ray Hall, Public Affairs Officer, Troop F. (662) 266-1130.